Jonathan Betz Photography Blog bio picture

Portrait Artist | Jonathan Betz, M.Photog., CPP

Jonathan found his love of photography and light while working in Yellowstone National Park in the summer of 1999. During his time there, he mentored under a professional photographer that taught him how to see and capture light - the very foundation of photography. Upon returning home to St. Louis after that summer, he began pursuing a career in professional photography. In 2002, Jonathan accepted a position with a St. Louis Studio as a portrait & wedding photographer and studied under five different Master Photographers. In 2006, he and his wife Lindsay moved to Colorado and opened Jonathan Betz Photography in Colorado Springs.

Jonathan earned his Masters of Photography Degree (M.Photog.) in 2019 and Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) in 2015, conferred by The Professional Photographers of America. His work has been recognized with honors at the national and international level, most recently receiving the Platinum Medal and earning highest honors with a Grand Imaging Award. Jonathan served five terms as the President of the Professional Photographers Guild of Colorado Springs. He has served on the Board of Directors for state and regional professional photography organizations. He's committed to lifelong learning and continually seeks to elevate his craft through professional training, education, and teaching opportunities to help younger photographers refine their skills and businesses.

Studio Manager | Lindsay Betz, Cr.Photog

Lindsay joined the photography industry when she and Jonathan moved to Colorado in 2006, filling the integral role of studio management in the business. Our client families benefit from her guidance for everything before and after the photography session.

As she has embraced the photography industry, she loves opportunities to teach and present to the community of professional photographers from her expertise on the business side of photography. She has presented to professional photographers on the national platform every year since 2018. In 2022, she was recognized with the National Award for Business Education by Professional Photographers of America (PPA).

In 2019, she earned her Photographic Craftsman (Cr.Photog.), the degree that recognizes those in the photography industry that serve through professional-level teaching. She was elected to the National Council for PPA in 2016 and continues that leadership into her third term. She also serves on the PPA Education Advisory Board Committee. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Directors for the Professional Photographers Guild of Colorado Springs since 2015.

Proud members of:

Professional Photographers of America
Professional Photographers Guild of Colorado Springs

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

The Smith Family | Family Portraits at Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

The Smith Family was a really fun session that showcases a really close extended family. These girls are cousins who enjoy the closeness of sisters, and we love how much fun they all had during the session! We also had a chuckle because these girls are all used to the heat and humidity of Houston, TX and North Carolina, and they were freezing during their session on a 50 degree day in March. For those of us who live here, a 50 degree day in March feels downright awesome, right? I spent 8 years living in Houston, so I can attest to the fact that a few years there does make you feel like 50 is quite cold. When we moved to Houston, I was going into 5th grade, and we moved there from Minnesota – talk about a climate change! I have vivid memories of walking with my neighbor friend to the bus stop on a 50 degree day that first “winter” in Houston. She was wearing a wool hat, winter coat, scarf, and gloves…I was in jeans and a long sleeve shirt, no coat. I asked, “What are you wearing?!” She was like, “It’s cold! I’m wearing my winter stuff!!” I was still on Minnesota weather – at 60 degrees there, we’d wear shorts again! Enjoy some favorites from a great Colorado Spring session at Garden of the Gods!